BATON ROUGE - Tyler Hanover hit a key three-run homer and reliever Matty Ott worked out of a late jam as LSU beat Auburn, 7-6, for a sweep of the three-game series.

LSU (33-12, 14-7 in the SEC) maintained a half game lead in the SEC West. Auburn fell to 25-19 and 8-12. LSU is also tied with Georgia for first in the overall conference race.

Ott pitched in all three games and had two saves and a victory.

Hanover hit a three-run homer in a four-run fifth inning to give LSU the lead for good. Micah Gibbs added to the lead weith a run-scoring double and D.J. LeMahieu hit a run-scoring single in the sixth.

The following are live in-game updates.

Auburn cuts lead to 7-6
Chad Jones did his job. He was brought in to face three consecutive lefthanded batters. Although he allowed a single to Casey McElroy to load the bases, he struck out the next two hitters before leaving in favor of closer Matty Ott. But Ott allowed a two-run single before getting an inning-ending strikeout of Wes Gilmer.

Chad Jones on the mound for LSU, leading 7-4 in the eighth
We weren't expecting this. Chad Jones, who is the starting safety on the football team, is in the game to pitch after Daniel Bradshaw hit one batter and walked another.

Jones, a lefty, has missed much of the season while participating in spring football practice. He rejoined the team on Monday.

LSU takes 6-4 lead in fifth inning
The LSU bats woke up big time after the Tigers fell behind in the top half of the inning. Freshman third baseman Tyler Hanover hit a three-run homer with two outs after D.J. LeMahieu had struck out.

LSU wasn't finished either. Mikie Mahtook singled, stole second and then scored on a double by Micah Gibbs. Those were some big hits considering LSU had left some runners on base in the first four innings and hit into a double play.

The game is far from over. As usual, LSU's lack of pitching depth is showing. Starter Austin Ross got into trouble allowing two hits. With one out, Paul Bertuccini came on to get a strikeout but walked Ben Jones to load the bases and hit Brian Fletcher to drive in one run. Bertuccini was replaced by Daniel Bradshaw, who got behind 3-0, threw two strikes and then walked Wes Gilmer to force in another run.

Fasten yuour seatbelts.

LSU, Auburn tied 2-2 after three innings
LSU is getting some good swings and hitting the ball hard but has only two runs to show for it. Buzzy Haydel doubled home one run and after Austin Nola was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Ryan Schimpf hit into a fielder's choice to score another. However, struggling Jared Mitchell struck out with runners on first and third to end the inning.

LSU missed another good chance in the first when Schimpf and Mitchell led off the game with singles, but Blake Dean hit into a double play.

Austin Ross, who got bombed in less than three innings last weekend by Tennessee, was cruising along strong with a scoreless game. He struck out the first two hitters in the third but Casey McElroy singled and Hunter Morris hit his 12th homer of the season and second of the series.